Valve-wrench.



UNITED Patented June 2, 1903.

LOUIS R. SACK, OF SOUTH ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

VAhVE-WRENCH.

SPEGIFIGATION'forming part of Letters Batent No. 729,672, dated June 2,1903. Application filed October 24,1902. Serial No. 128,525. No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS R. SACK, a citizen of the United States,residing at South St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inValve-Wrenches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this where it cannot be seen.

specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wrenches adapted for use withvalves having stop-cocks of any description; butit is more especiallydesigned for use with stop and waste cocks or valves used in stock-yard,railroad, and waterworks systems and .for use under the ground or wateror other places By means of this device I am enabled to dispense withstops or lugs upon stop-cocks, simplify the construction, lessen thecost, and remove all liability of the valve at any time failing to serveits purpose by reason of the screw or other stop device getting out ofposition.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the valve-wrench, shownin operation on the stop-cock, the valve being open and anextension-rod, broken away, attached to the wrench-handle. Fig. 2 is anend elevation showing the slot for the reception of the head of thestop-cock and the guides or prongs that serve as stops; and Fig. 3 is aview of the wrench turned upside down, showing the slot, the flangeextensions, and the position of the prongs in relation to the slot.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

This invention consists of a casting, preferably 0f malleable iron,having a central or body piece A, provided with two lateral wings orextensions B B. These extensions project downward and outward fromopposite ends of said body-piece, each outward extension forming flangesO C at right angles with the ends of the body-piece upon opposite sidesthereof. The inner sides of the extensions and the bottom of saidbody-piece form a slot 1), suited to receive the head E of a valve or50001:. This slot-space may be formed as shown in the drawings or squareor any shape adapted to the shape of the valve or cookhead. Extendingvertically downward from said extensions and set diametrically oppositeeach other are two guides or prongs H II.

. These prongs are set at an angle of about fortyfive degrees with theslot.

A handle I is attached to the top of the body-piece and may be cast ofany desired shape without departing from the purpose of my invention.This handle is provided with perforations to permit a rod K of anydesired length to be attached to it. This rod is especially designed tobe attached to wrenches that are to be used un der ground or under wateror in other places where the operator cannot reach or see handle I toopen or close the valve. Lateral exte sions B B are also provided withperforatidlis near their lower parts to permit the wrench to be attachedto the head of the cook or valve by screws, rivets, or otherwise, if itis desired to leave it permanently attached thereto.

I preferably construct my device with two prongs, as shown; but as itcan ordinarily be operated with a single prong I claim the privilege ofomitting one prong when desired.

As prongs H II, as shown in Fig. 1, set upon opposite sides of thevalve-pipe and diametrically opposite each other, it will be readilyseen that when slot D is placed on valve or cook head-E andthe operatorgrasps handle I or its extension-rod K and revolves it the wrench canmake only a half-turn, the prongs when turned as far as they will gostopping the valve with certainty either open or closed, as may bedesired.

As the wrench is cast in a single piece, there is no danger throughbreakage or loosening of stop-screws that it will fail to accomplishperfectly its purpose to both open and close the valve and serve as astop.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. "The combination in a valve-wrench of the central body-piece, thehandle thereon, the lateral extensions providediwith outward projectionsat opposite ends and on opposite sides of the body-piece, the lowerextensions the inner sides of which and the bottom of the body-pieceforming a slot to receive the head of the stop-cock, and the duplicateprongs set diametrically opposite each other and adapted to contact withthe valve-pipe on opposite sides and stop the valve open and closed,substantially as described and for the purpose shown.

2. The combination with a turning-rod provided with duplicate perforatedprongs, of a valve-wrench cast as a single piece consisting of thecentral body-piece and the perforated handle thereon adapted to berigidly engaged between the prongs of said turning-rod by means ofscrews or rivets, the lateral extensions provided with outwardprojections

